Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) has started allocation of plots of BEPZA Economic Zone to the investors. The provisional allotment letters provided Sunday (13 June) to 10 companies of home & abroad at BEPZA Complex, Dhaka. The Executive Chairman of BEPZA Major General Md Nazrul Islam,handed over the allotment letters to the investors. Mentionable, 70 local & foreign companies have already applied expressing their interest to invest in BEPZA Economic Zone located at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar, Mirsharai, Chattogram. Out of them, BEPZA provided provisional allotment to 10 companies, a press release said.

Among the 10 enterprises, 2 from the UK, 2 from South Korea, 2 from China, 1 from the USA, 1 from Hong Kong, 1 from Canada and the rest one from Bangladesh. The proposed investment of those companies is US$ 334 million where 51,300 Bangladeshi nationals would be employed.

Congratulating the new investors BEPZA Executive Chairman said, BEPZA put it’s all experience of long 40 years in developing BEPZA Economic Zone. “BEPZA leaves no stone unturned to secure your investment” he added regarding the safety & security of investment in the Zone. 

The Executive Chairman said that the investment of BEPZA increased 79% during January-April, 2021 than the same period of last year.  He said, BEPZA has been contributing around 20% to the total national export and hope that this contribution would be augmented significantly after being added BEPZA Economic Zone with its 8 EPZs. The Executive Chairman reiterated the commitment of BEPZA to provide all sorts of cooperation to the investors within the provision of law. He urged the investors to come forward to grow mutually.

Mentionable, Hon'ble Prime Minister unveiled the foundation stone of BEPZA Economic Zone established on 1150 acres of land at Mirsharai, Chattogram through video conference from “BEPZA International Investors Summit 2018” held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center on 24 January 2018. Later, the development works of BEPZA Economic Zone gets momentum after approval of the project ‘BEPZA Economic Zone, Mirsharai 1st phase’ at ECNEC in order to expedite the construction of physical infrastructure. 

A dike (protection wall) around the project has already been constructed as a part of 1st phase work. The land development by sand filling is almost completed. The work of roads, electricity & gas supply network is almost done for establishing Industrial units. The construction work of Zone Service Complex (BEPZA Office), Officer’s & Staff’s Dormitory, Investors’ Residence, Ansar & Security Barrack, Custom and Security Building, Main Gate & Custom Gate, etc. is going on. 140 nos. of industrial plots with each size of 3600 square meters have already been prepared for investment. BEPZA started to allocate from these ready plots as per the demand of the investors.

All sorts of facilities would be added gradually to make BEPZA Economic Zone a smart, green zone. Total 539 industrial plots would be ready for establishing about 350 industrial units after the completion of the total development work.  BEPZA hopes, it will able to create employment opportunities for around 5 lac Bangladeshi nationals and attract investment of about US$ 4.5 billion after implementation of the whole project.

From the inception, 8 EPZs under BEPZA has been working relentlessly to achieve its desired goal by attracting investment, increasing of export through product diversification and creation of employment. Now BEPZA is being praised globally as ‘Paradise of investment’. Investors from 38 countries have invested US$ 5.6 billion. Goods worth of US$ 86 billion have been exported from the enterprises in the EPZs where 4.5 Bangladeshi nationals have been employed. 

General Manager (Investment Promotion) Md. Tanvir Hossain highlighted the overall scenario including the development work of BEPZA Economic Zone at the beginning of the program.  Member (Investment Promotion) Md. Mahmudul Hossain Khan, Member (Engineering) Mohammad Faruque Alam, Member (Finance) Nafisa Banu, Secretary Md. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, General Manager (PR) Nazma Binte Alamgir, General Manager (ES) Md. Khorshid Alam, Project Director of BEPZA EZ Md. Hafizur Rahman and high officials of BEPZA including foreign & local investors were present in the ceremony.